Hi.I'm having full thyroid, vitamins and hormones at 8.30 a.m.
Before a blood test I usually skip breakfast, take my HRT and vitamin D, but not take my morning thyroid meds.. Should I take my Armour at 7.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. the previous day? Should I only take the early morning dose and skip the afternoon dose?
My HRT routine is Testogel in the morning, Oestrogel and progesterone tablets in the evening.
Thank you.
I'm sure the experts will be along soon to give more considered advice. But here's my tuppence worth:
I never knew about maybe altering timing and splitting doses for testing until I started reading this forum. I am a long time user of NDT, with relatively stable dose, 3 grains, which I take first thing in the morning in a single dose.So what I have done is to aim for consistency in conditions when getting bloods done, whether NHS or private testing (I use Monitor my Health as it's an NHS lab.) I get an early slot at phlebotomy clinic (my veins are difficult) or do self-test with the pinprick - no later than 9.00 a.m. , no breakfast, only water to drink. I don't take that day's dose of NDT until the blood is taken. That means for some years now, my results can be compared like for like, as it's same conditions each time.
Sounds like your routine is the same, and personally I think that's good enough, and very workable.
Hello Strawberry flower :
Are you self medicating or needing a blood test for your primary care doctor and is your doctor aware that you are taking NDT ?
What routine have you followed in the past when taking NDT - as it's more important to have consistent results so you have some comparisons to refer back to.
It's generally suggested that when taking any form of thyroid hormone replacement containing T3 that that one should run a blood test at around 10-12 hours post last dose so we measure the height of the level of T3 in the blood stream.
I take NDT in 1 dose at around 2/3 in the morning and arrange my fasting thyroid blood test for around 11 AM the following day -
I'm self medicating and not seeing a doctor - so I am not concerned as to my TSH reading - which is the first and possibly only result the NHS laboratory run - which means diddly squat when on any form of thyroid hormone replacement - as we need to dosed on monitored on our Free T3 and Free T4 readings / ranges.
I am in the same boat, but take NDT (2 grains) in the morning, and one at bedtime. The T3 half life is short, and that is the one that really matters. I would just miss the morning dose.
They will, of course, go mad at the low TSH and tell you NDT will give you a bad heart and your bones are dissolving as you stand there. I now just tell them they are not keeping up with the research, and sweetly suggest they google it!
Thank you for all the replies.
I take 1 1/2 grains in the morning, 1 grain after lunch.
I am under a private clinician, and the bloods have been arranged through her for my first review. I started on NDT in the summer, having been on standard Levothyroxine for several years. I originally started on NDT about 10 years ago but had to stop due to finances.
I was feeling so ill that I went private again for both menopause and thyroid. I've been on HRT for a bit over a year; I've done a staggered protocol to see what's having an effect. I'm still feeling awful: I'm now awful and very hairy!!!! ( Thank you testosterone. )
My GP is fully aware of both HRT and NDT and is supportive of my choices.
My GP can prescribe my entire HRT regime but not the NDT ( which must be bought privately ).
I will fast and not take anything prior to the test, but keep the preceding day as normal.
I was getting a hairy lower stomach from the testosterone so the menopause doctor told me to apply it to my bum or the side of my hip. There are way less hair follicles there. And indeed, I'm now less hairy.
I put the gel on my thighs, but *everywhere* from hips down to ankles is now thickly carpeted. I could play Mrs. Tumnus now.
My butt is yet to sprout 😅
Bum then. No hair follicles there.
Affect of HRT on thyroid hormones
When to do a finger prick blood test now I'm taking thyroxine at night?
Timing of NDT when having blood test
Blood test tomorrow.
